ARSeeing as we wrote about PlayStation 5 last week, it wouldn’t be a new generation of consoles without talking about the new Xbox Series X as well. Luckily, Microsoft incorporates parental controls to ensure that the family can implement them as they wish. Much like we did last time, we’ll be highlighting some of the features that are available when setting up your console.
Depending on how old your children may be, there are a variety of ways you can tailor the settings to suit their age group. It’s very much down to you, but just ensure you are comfortable with what is setup for the whole family in the initial stages.
You can arrange these features through your Microsoft account online or via the Xbox Family Settings App
Set Up Xbox Series X Family Settings
In order to keep track of your home console, Microsoft allows you to setup a Family Group which can allow you to make individual child accounts with settings that relate to each child specifically. Setting up a Family Group keeps you in charge of the privacy settings and parental controls from the start. Some parents may wish to do this if their children are experiencing gaming for the first time or need to understand more about playing responsibly.
Leading a Family Group means you can have control over:
- Screen time: Set restrictions on how long the console can be used on a daily basis.
- Spending Limits: Get notified about potential purchases and limit funds for individual accounts
- Filtered Content: Restrict media that isn’t age appropriate including games and apps.
- Online Communication: Disable or limit how your child communicates with others online
To learn how to implement these features, visit Microsoft for the step-by-step guide
How To Stay Safe Online When Playing Xbox
Not only does Xbox have a variety of parental controls, there are ways in which you can report and block any users that may be causing harm online to your family. You are able to Mute players online if they are causing offense and blocking them cancels out any future communication. It’s important to not tolerate harm, regardless of whether it is playing a game or not. If someone makes your child feel uncomfortable, encouraging them to talk to you can develop their understanding of potential risks online.
You can find out about how to report users and learn about Microsoft’s community standards here
As with every new generation of gaming, a lot of the fun comes from sharing the experience together. Playing new games and sharing the fun can introduce the concept of online safety from the very start. Setting parental controls can offer peace of mind, but relaxing them as time goes on can further your child’s development into gaming responsibly, without worry.
You can also find out more about staying safe whilst gaming on our topics page.
